top 15 findings from the 2015 schooling in america survey
TRANSCRIPT
TOP 15FINDINGS
By the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice
edchoice.org/NationalSurvey2015
SCHOOLING INAMERICA SURVEY
FROM THE
2015
@edchoice
How many people rank education as the No. 1 issue facing America?
One out of six
1
@edchoice
How do Americans rate the federal government’s
performance in K–12 education?
Fair/Poor
Good/Excellent
77%
20%
2
@edchoice
Do Americans roughly know how much we spend per pupil on K–12 education?
The national average per-pupil spending amount is nearly $10,700.
Do
Don’t
3
14%
86%
@edchoice
How do public school parents rate their local public schools?
A or B C D or F
4
47%34%
17%
@edchoice
Which school type do Americans say they would prefer their children attend?
5
vs. actual enrollments:
PRIVATE SCHOOL
PUBLIC SCHOOL
CHARTER SCHOOL
HOME SCHOOL
41%36%
12%
9%
9.4%83.8%
4%
2.8%
PRIVATE SCHOOL
PUBLIC SCHOOL
CHARTER SCHOOL
HOME SCHOOL
@edchoice
What do Americans think about school vouchers before
hearing a definition?
6a
Favor Oppose
39%26%
@edchoice
After hearing a definition of school vouchers, do
Americans’ opinions change?
6b
Favor FavorOppose Oppose
61% 63%
33% 30%
General Public School Parents
@edchoice
How many Americans are unfamiliar with the concept of school vouchers?
Ourestimate:
35%
7
@edchoice
What are Americans’ top two reasons for supporting vouchers?
8
1.2.
Access to schools havingbetter academics (38%)
More freedom and flexibilityfor parents (28%)
@edchoice
What is the top reason people say they oppose school vouchers?
9
57% said because they “divert funding away from public schools”
That statement assumes the only destination for funding should be
public schools, which could be why our opponents use such phrasing. We believe education funding should follow students.
@edchoice
What do Americans think about education savings accounts (ESAs)?
10
General Public School Parents
66% of split-sample respondents said ESAs should be universal
62% Favor 63% Favor28% Oppose 27% Oppose10% Don’t Know /Refused
10% Don’t Know /Refused
@edchoice
What do Americans think about tax-credit scholarships?
11
Favor FavorOppose Oppose
60% 61%
29% 27%
General Public School Parents
@edchoice
What do school parents think of testing?
12
48% of school parents say kids spend 16 days or more—nearly one in 10 days of the school year—on standardized testing
47% of school parents say the amount of time spent on standardized testing is “too high”
@edchoice
When it comes to state government intervention in schools with low student
performance, how many Americans rate each of these solutions as useful for families?
13
said supply vouchers/scholarships
said convert them to charter schools
said replace personnel
said close the school
41%
26%
25%
18%
@edchoice
What do Americans think about Common Core State Standards?
14
General Public School Parents
50% Favor 47% Favor40% Oppose 46% Oppose10% Don’t Know /Refused
7% Don’t Know /Refused
Strongly Favor Strongly Oppose19% 24%
@edchoice
How do education interest groups influence voters with their
endorsements of political candidates?
15
POSITIVELY NEGATIVELY
VS.
Teachers’ Union
Teachers’ Union
Parent Advocacy
Group
Parent Advocacy
Group
46%25%
50%
16%
For more on this report, visit
edchoice.org/NationalSurvey2015
To contact the author,Research Director Paul DiPerna,
email [email protected].